Can I get WhatsApp on my Chromebook?

Yes, you can. You can use WhatsApp to send text messages and make video calls from your Chrome OS device.

In this article, I will show you install and configure WhatsApp on your Chromebook. You can use WhatsApp on your Chromebook without installing an extension or app. However, you can install WhatsApp Web as an app to get additional features.

WhatsApp on Chromebook without phone

WhatsApp now allows you to use the app even when your phone is offline. You can now use WhatsApp on Chromebook without connecting the phone. However, you will need a phone and phone number to create a WhatsApp account and to configure it on your Chromebook.

Follow the steps provided in this article to set up WhatsApp and use it without the phone.

Download WhatsApp for Chromebook

You can install WhatsApp on a Chromebook. There are two ways to get WhatsApp. You can either use the WhatsApp app for Android in the same way you would on a smartphone or tablet. The second method is to use WhatsApp for the web as an app.

If you have a Chromebook that supports Android apps, in this example, we are using a Pixel Slate.

Open up PlayPlay Store, search for WhatsApp and install it.

Whatsapp video call on Chromebook

If you install the Whatsapp Android app in Chrome OS, you will be able to use it similar to your phone. This includes making video calls too.

Click the video camera icon on any profile to start a video call.

However, if you are using the WhatsApp web app (as we explain in the next section), video and audio calls are not available yet. You can, however, send voice messages (voice notes).

WhatsApp for Google Chrome

Now, what happens if you cannot install the WhatsApp app on your Chromebook? How do you use WhatsApp on Chrome?

You might find workarounds like downloading an APK and sideloading it. However, I will not recommend any of that.

If you have Google Chrome, you can use WhatsApp for Web on the computer. This includes Windows 10 and macOS. And of course, this works on a Chromebook too.

If you already have a phone where WhatsApp is installed and works, the best way to use WhatsApp on your Chromebook, or any laptop for that matter, is WhatsApp web. I am sure this will suffice for 99% of the use cases. Most of you just want to use WhatsApp on your Chromebook also. Your primary device will remain your phone itself.

For this use, you can install WhatsApp Web as a Progressive Web App (PWA). I use this regularly on my Pixelbook and Mac. Here is how you can do it.

Head over to https://web.whatsapp.com/. If you haven’t already paired your phone with WhatsApp Web, follow the instructions here to do this. Here is a video showing how to do this:

Next, click the settings icon (three dots menu) and choose More tools. From here, choose to Create shortcut.

You will now a confirmation popup. On this screen, select “Open as a window” and then click Create. You can also give the app a different name if you wish to.

You will now see WhatsApp as a separate app window.

One last but optional step. If you want to pin this app to your taskbar for easy access, you can do that too. While the app is open, right-click the WhatsApp icon on the taskbar. Choose Pin.

You can now use WhatsApp from your Chromebook. This is applicable to Google Chrome on Windows or Ms how to configure WQh WhatataAsApp your phone with WhatsApp should be online for you to use WhatsApp web.

Stop Notification Popups or Mute Sound

Now, if you installed the Progressive Web App (PWA) version of WhatsApp instead of the Android app, here is how to mute notifications and sound:

1. On the app window, click the three dots settings icon.
2. Click App info.
3. From the Notifications dropdown, select Allow or Block to allow or mute notifications.
4. From the Sound dropdown, select Allow or Block to allow or mute sound.

Note: When you mute sound, it will mute sound for videos and audio voice notes played on the WhatsApp app.

WhatsApp on Microsoft Edge

Edge user? You can use WhatsApp on Microsoft Edge too. The web app version of WhatsApp works on Edge.

To use WhatsApp on Edge:

1. Open a new tab and go to https://web.whatsapp.com. You will now see a QR code.
2. Open WhatsApp on your phone.
3. Go to your Chats list and tap the three-dots menu icon. (This will not work if you click the three-dots icon from an individual chat.)
4. Tap “WhatsApp Web”.
5. Scan the QR code.
6. WhatsApp for Web will now open on Edge.

Do you want to use Zoom instead of WhastApp? We got you covered.

Questions? Ask us in the comments section.